In this file photo Little Pipe Creek, swollen with rainwater, overflows its banks along Old New Windsor Road near Adams Mill Road in Westminster following heavy rains Thursday, April 28, 2011.

In this file photo Little Pipe Creek, swollen with rainwater, overflows its banks along Old New Windsor Road near Adams Mill Road in Westminster following heavy rains Thursday, April 28, 2011. (Dylan Slagle / Carroll County Times)

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation announced Tuesday that, with the help of volunteers, it will plant more than 1,000 trees along Little Pipe Creek in October.

The roughly nine acres of forest will serve as a riparian buffer between cattle and crop fields and the creek, which is part of a network of waterways that flow into the Chesapeake Bay. Workers and volunteers will plant the approximately 1,200 trees on the Trout family farm in Keymar.

“This project will improve water quality and herd health by fencing the cattle out of the stream,” said Rob Schnabel, Maryland Restoration Biologist for CBF, per the organization’s news release. “The newly planted trees will function as a sponge to reduce downstream flooding while also filtering any sediment pollution coming off the corn fields during rain events.”

Agricultural runoff is one of the chief contributors of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution. High nitrogen and phosphorus levels create idyllic conditions for harmful algae blooms in the bay. Algae blooms block sunlight to underwater grasses, consume oxygen needed by fish and interfere with shellfish feeding habits, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

When it rains, fertilizer, manure and pesticides — rich with nitrogen and phosphorus — wash into streams, which connect to rivers that flow into the Bay. The web of tree roots filter out pollutants before they reach the stream.

“The trees also shade the streams to help keep water temperatures cool,” the CBF news release detailed. “Cooler water can hold more oxygen for fish species such as trout.”

CBF and the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s cost share program will fund fencing and reinforced stream crossing for cattle for the Trout’s farm.

Streamside forest buffers with fencing that prevents cattle from reaching the stream has proven to be the most cost effective agricultural conservation practice for improving water quality, CBF said in the release.

To compensate participating farmers, the environmental organization provides $1,000 per acre of forest for additional conservation practices on the farm, the release said.

CBF is looking for local volunteers to plant trees and shrubs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 at the farm. Those interested can contact David Tana at MDrestoration@cbf.org for more information.

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Recruits in the Carroll County Sheriff's Office Training Academy get hands-on training behind the wheel of a police car at the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions Driver Training Facility in Sykesville.

Recruits in the Carroll County Sheriff's Office Training Academy get hands-on training behind the wheel of a police car at the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions Driver Training Facility in Sykesville.

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Recruits in the Carroll County Sheriff's Office Training Academy get hands-on training behind the wheel of a police car at the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions Driver Training Facility in Sykesville.

Recruits in the Carroll County Sheriff's Office Training Academy get hands-on training behind the wheel of a police car at the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions Driver Training Facility in Sykesville.

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Brian Geraci, Maryland state fire marshal, gives an update after firefighters found a deceased female inside an apartment in the 900 block of Marimich Court in Sykesville Monday morning.

Brian Geraci, Maryland state fire marshal, gives an update after firefighters found a deceased female inside an apartment in the 900 block of Marimich Court in Sykesville Monday morning.

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Crews from New Windsor and surrounding fire companies were still working to control a house fire in the 1600 block of Bowersox Road, more than an hour after the blaze began Thursday.

Crews from New Windsor and surrounding fire companies were still working to control a house fire in the 1600 block of Bowersox Road, more than an hour after the blaze began Thursday.

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Volunteers from Camden Cares make needed renovation to the Hampstead home of Melissa and Jonathan Meadows Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. Jonathan Meadows, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, is a retired sergeant first class of the Army National Guard who was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and PTSD.

Volunteers from Camden Cares make needed renovation to the Hampstead home of Melissa and Jonathan Meadows Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. Jonathan Meadows, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, is a retired sergeant first class of the Army National Guard who was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and PTSD.

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The town of Hampstead held its annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Banner Display at Main Street Memorial Park in Hampstead Friday, Nov. 30, 2018.

The town of Hampstead held its annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Banner Display at Main Street Memorial Park in Hampstead Friday, Nov. 30, 2018.